"Ukraine, far away from Japan. The heartbreaking news feels like a different world when you're in Japan. But right now, it's happening in reality.
Last year, a man from Spain stood up for Ukrainian women. AMOAMI is a project to protect and heal these women who have been forced to leave Ukraine and live in a foreign country, not just through temporary support, but over the long term. The key is the crochet-knitted bear plush toys called 'Amigurumi' from Japan.
I interviewed Rafael, the founder, about the AMOAMI project."
- AMOAMIとはどんなプロジェクトですか？
Please tell me about the AMOAMI project.
AMOAMI was born in 2022 after the invasion of Rusia in Ukraine.
Instead of sending money or aid to Ukraine, we thought of creating a sustainable long term organization which provided a sense of belonging and purpose in the refugee community, women and children that came to European countries with no jobs and no network of friends. They wouldn’t speak the local language and we lacked the support network to find jobs and establish for ourselves in Spain.
Drawing inspiration from a previous visit to Ukraine, we decided to do CROCHET. We immediately saw it as an avenue for creativity and empowerment to all the refugee women.
The main objective is to create a community of crochet through which women can get some income and especially therapy. Crocheting beautiful creatures and amigurumi helps them evade themselves from negative thoughts and it has become a therapeutical tool.
- このプロジェクトを始めようと思ったきっかけはなんですか？
What was the inspiration behind starting this project?
The co-funder Rafael J. Alcaide was always inspired by his grandmother's skills in crochet, and after a visit in Ukraine in 2021, he saw that Ukrainians were really skilled in handicraft and crochet. Therefore, with the help of a friend who was a fashion designer, decided to create a bear dressing a Vyshyvanka scarf (Ukrainian typical clothing) in amigurumi.
The inspiration also came after seeing and running into hundreds of women and children who just arrived in Spain and seemed to have lost all purpose in their lives.
- プロジェクトはスペイン以外にも広がっていますね！
How has the project gained visibility beyond Spain?
Could you update me on the current status?
We saw from the very beginning that this had to be an international project. Ukrainians were all over the world and we wanted to create a product that was appealing for everybody, no matter where they are from. An amigurumi with a symbolic meaning, of hope and freedom.
Therefore we soon tried to contact Ukrainian associations in Switzerland and France to expand and get more crocheters onboard.
Now we are 60 Ukrainian women in France, Switzerland , Spain and even Ukraine crocheting as therapy and creating beautiful Amigurumi. We are selling worldwide and we ship our bears to Japan!
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- なぜ日本のアミグルミを選んだんですか？
Why did you choose Japanese Amigurumi for this project?
We are in love with Japanese Amigurumi, we find it the most beautiful way to make a personalized handmade gift. Furthermore, we think that it's such a support for mental health, stress release and self esteem boost.
We think Japanese culture is amazing and very rich, so we took inspiration in the art of amigurumi.
In Europe it is quite popular and a lot of people are learning to make Amigurumi.
- 日本に住む私たちが感じているよりも、ウクライナの状況は大変なのでしょうか？
Is the situation in Ukraine more challenging than what we, living in Japan, might perceive?
We think so. We are afraid that people in Europe, Japan and elsewhere may get tired of hearing bad news about Ukraine. But everyday people continue to die in UKraine, and bombs are dropped by Russian drones and the army. Around 15 percent of Ukraine’s estimated 2021 population of 44 million has left the country, which is one of the largest exodus in recent history. They constantly fear the will lose their houses and their loved ones as the war continues.
Our cities keep being bombed, like yesterday Odessa and its magnificent cathedral.... It is really frustrating and devastating.
- AMOAMIを購入することが、どう女性たちをサポートすることに繋がるのでしょう？
How does purchasing AMOAMI products contribute to supporting women?
The sales of each bear go directly to the Ukrainian team of women and for purchasing more cotton and material to continue doing this.
By purchasing AMOAMI, you contribute to the survival of an association of women who find therapeutical this art of amigurumi. They love what they do and it's a very important project that has given back some meaning to their "on-hold" lives outside their country. Additionally, we aim to change the way we purchase gifts, and we believe that something handmade and with a meaning can be a very educational gift.
- 日本から購入することは可能ですか？
Is it possible to buy AMOAMI products from Japan?
Yes, you can always buy them through our own e-shop www.amoami.eu or by writing us at info@amoami.eu
We would love to sell in shops and boutiques in Japan so we hope to be there soon physically! It would be our dream, after all Amigurumi is Japanese and it's been a constant source of inspiration for us.
